Fury as Koizumi honours war dead

15 August 2006 — 11:50pm

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a pilgrimage to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for war dead today, despite warnings from China and South Korea not to. He denied his visit glorified war or militarism.

"I go with the feeling that we should not wage war again and that we must not forget the sacrifice of those who went to war and died," Mr Koizumi said.

He was speaking after China and South Korea, which bore the brunt of their neighbour's past military aggression, protested against his visit to the shrine on the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender.

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The parting shot by the outgoing Japanese leader provoked fury among Japan's neighbours.

"Prime Minister Koizumi has constantly, on historical issues, hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and lost the confidence, not only of the international community, but also the Japanese people," said the ministry.

In Seoul, a foreign ministry official said South Korea would summon Tokyo's ambassador to protest.

While the United States has not complained publicly, experts say Washington is worried about Japan's growing isolation in the region and its deteriorating ties with China, in particular.

Nationalist supporters of the shrine, holding banners proclaiming solidarity with the emperor, stood out among the crowds paying their respects at the shrine, where TV cameras and reporters had awaited the prime minister's arrival.

A group of right-wingers attacked a van carrying opponents of the shrine visit, some throwing rocks and others banging on the vehicle with umbrellas. Riot police moved in and the van left.

Mr Koizumi, 64, who steps down next month after more than five years in office, promised during his campaign to become ruling party chief in 2001 that he would visit the shrine on the August 15 anniversary.

He had visited every year since, but never on this date.

Japanese World War II leaders convicted as war criminals are honoured along with 2.5 million war dead at the Shinto shrine.

"I am not going there for the Class A war criminals. I am going there to mourn the many who made sacrifices," Mr Koizumi said.

Mr Koizumi reiterated his criticism of Chinese and South Korean leaders for refusing to hold bilateral summits because of his annual shrine visits.

Asked why he had chosen to go to the shrine on the emotive anniversary when in the past he has avoided it, Mr Koizumi said he was criticised whatever date he went.

"It's the same whenever I go, and if that's the case, I thought today was appropriate," he said.